The momentous berthing of MV Pomio 2 at the beachfront of the Mamosi Yana LLG Office at Palmalmal was met with eager anticipation from a vibrant crowd, culminating in a joyous celebration recently.
The occasion was graced by Prime Minister James Marape and distinguished guests from the East New Britain Provincial Government, led by Governor Michael Marum and Pomio MP Elias Kapavore and others.
During the event, Prime Minister Marape announced K4 million funding and encouraged the people to get into agricultural activities such as growing oil palm and cocoa.
He said first half of the K2 million will go towards maintaining MV Pomio 2 where buyers can easily get around buying agricultural produce from local people at higher price.
“The government has freight subsidy and price support programs and wants the people to sell their produce at a higher price in Pomio than taking their produce and selling at a lower price in Rabaul, Kokopo or elsewhere,” Prime Minister said.
“The funding is part of the National Government’s freight subsidy and price support. This is to promote small to medium enterprises to enable the growth of local economy through the creation of employment and putting money into the hands of the people.”
The remaining K2 million will go towards supporting the vessel in freight subsidy and making an appeal to the people of Pomio, to get into productive activities like fishing, agriculture, and cocoa production.
The ship, MV Pomio 2 will be transporting passengers, cargo, goods and services, including agricultural produce from the district to the city.
PM James Marape highlighted that Pomio district holds over 75 per cent of ENB’s landmass and that the government is taking collaborative efforts in linking Palmalmal to Kokopo city.
“We want our people to be empowered and sustain themselves through agriculture. This vessel will aid our people in bringing their produce to the markets,” he said.
“While we launch the ship, work has commenced on the South coasts links to Kokopo. These are all part of the Connect PNG program,” he said.
The new shipping vessel cost about K8 million.
PM James Marape was accompanied by ENB provincial member Michael Marum and member for Pomio district Elias Kapavore.
Pomio MP Elias Kapavore said that people must reciprocate the level of government support to develop the district, by being productive in the economic sector.
“The Marape Rosso government is touching the lives of rural communities like never before, in our nation’s history.
The government is providing such services and therefore I urge people to go back to their land and be productive,” he said.
PM Marape also witnessed the opening of a 30-meter Ngelngel bridge in the Totongpal ward in West Pomio LLG.
Pomio Acting Deputy District Administrator for Operations Joshua Jeremiah said the bridge and vessel were both delivered through the national government’s Connect PNG Program.
He said that the Ngelngel bridge was co-funded by the Pomio District Service Improvement Program (DSIP) with K500 000, while the balance of K700, 000 was catered for by the national government.
“The Ngelngel bridge was constructed as a response to the disaster caused by continuous heavy rains last year and thus was issued a COI (Certificate of Inexpediency),” he said.
He further advised that the bridge serves the population of the host ward of Totongpal, and wards from neighboring LLGs of Mamusi Yana and Melkoi.
